Ahoy Zephyr Family!! Thanks for watching this week's latest episode! If you love coming along on the adventure with us every week, subscribe to our channel so you never miss a new episode. It's completely free, super easy, and it actually helps us out so so so much.... Just click the subscribe button above! And if you want to get a notification every time we post a new video, click the little bell icon right next to it. Sending loads of love to each and every one of you!
You need some kind of device that uses humidity or what ever to make water ... I have watched many survival vids and it was the water that saved their lives ... Love you channel 💕
Comments are absolutely brilliant. I will add one item, Merino wool long johns and long sleeve singlet dry or wet they will look after you. Even if the water is warm you can still get hypothermic. What you did was a good idea so long as you learn from it and advance on your lessons. How many times have sailing boats sunk and none of the emergency equipment was activated a ton of times especially at night. Love your show God Bless you both.
Good first time effort. One point to understand is that in a real actual event when the worst happens extremely fast, you will not have time to think of everything. For this reason it is critical that the essential survival items are already packed in the life raft. Your grab bag should have all of the extra essential items packed inside except for the epirb. For the handheld vhf radio consider the gmdss McMurdo with the non rechargeable spare batteries or the sailor equivalent, both are waterproof and float. The dogs will be another complexity to a survival situation, the point that was raised by another commenter regarding the muzzles and booties is a valid point. The abandon drills that I was part of for over 30 years had a max time of 3 mins from the alarm to ready to launch lifeboats or life rafts. In reality you will have much more time to prepare (unless it is a freak catastrophe). Remember the best life raft is your yacht, abandoning it is a last resort always. For the drills try planning them during the day to start with. Then once comfortable spring them unexpectedly regardless of the conditions and activity on board. One that I used to spring on the crew occasionally was in the dead of night when most were asleep, that was the telling one. One other point for the dogs, don’t forget their life jackets. Cheers🇦🇺
Good Test Run. 👍 I've been thinking this through for a while (years really ) and have revolved it around maybe two liferafts of valise rather than cannister types, as canister ones are prime targets for thieves - connected with the Inflatable Di ghy and Outboard with a protective Cover, and roped together 5 gallon Jugs for water and Gasoline, that can be just unclipped to just drag off that side deck into the water, for tying to both liferafts, then everything in Grab bags, ready to go, with a few collapsible buckets, and all of the Washing up liquid (dish soap in the USA? ) that's on the boat into the Dinghy. then if the leak hasn't been able to be plugged , both Liferafts inflated, Straps from each, connecting them to the Dinghy, Water Jugs shared between the Liferafts, Gasoline Jugs into the Dinghy, and set up Water catchers for each Liferaft, and small Solar panels and chargers for radio, torch batteries, plus mobile phone and Tablets with Navigation Charts to check for the closest land. if in range, use the Dinghy, plus Outboard to head to shore slowly, or, try to get comfortable with thermal Blankets in one of the liferafts. For Flares, I have always kept to old outbof date ones in a cool place and dry containers, and if needing to signal, always start with the oldest ones first, because if kept cool and dry, I have never had an out of date one fail to work yet, in familiarisation sessions. With a protective cover for the Dinhy, you have an outside toilet, and you just put some seawater into a collapsible bucket with a short squirt of washing up liquid, which you wet a mi ro fiber cloth with tonuse as toilet paper, rinse thoroughly over the side of the Dinghy, then empty and rinse the bucket, and the current carries what is now Shark Repellent down current from you. There are pretty cheap manual water Desalinater Devices, and Solar Stills available, but they don't produce that much. Next, depends on responses to your EPIRB, and whether any other boats are in VHF Range, and log GPS chart changes of direction and current changes, every 12 hours or so. The it is basically sitting it out, conserving water, and using food carefully. If land comes into range, motor towards it slowly, to conserve as much fuel as possible, and be careful with Surf, rocks etc, to get bothnliferafts ashore in as good a condition as possible, because you have ready made Shelters to use onshore, already with you. I like three pretty complete First Aid Kits on a Boat - a Main one close to the Galley and the grab bags, and two Satellite ones, one in the ForwardcHead, the other in a Cockpit Locker, which should be plenty until Rescue. Once you reach Shore, you need to be able to boil water, andcyou can sterilise water with Plain Bleach One of the Grab bags, will probably be full enough with Snack bars and bars of Chocolate, to sink one ofvthe Liferafts being me - when Motorbike touring Europe, I always carried enough dehydrated food, tea, coffee, Sugar and Condensed Milk, to last 3 months, just in case I got stranded in an EU Collapse. in 2012, when I got to Hungary, I stayed an extra 5 weeks over the 3 weeks planed because the weather was so bad, it just wasn't safe to travel, due to Constant Thunder Storms, torrential Rain, Landslides etc, and I actually ran out of Coffee, as people on the site were running out. I was OK for tea though. 😊🌟🌟🌟👍
Good drill and good message. One thing that I would comment on is your tethers hanging down create a trip and entanglement hazard. I sail in the Pacific NW and our water is rarely over 55º and often much colder. Given that I solo sail a lot, I use my jacklines and tether most of the time. I have found that the tether creates more problems than it solves if it is hanging down like yours are. When not attached to the jack line, I loop it over my shoulders which keep it out of the way and much less likely to get hung up on something.
I could see that you have a 4-man liferaft. Do you know what the interior dimensions are (once deployed)? Very few liferafts manufacturers give that information. And my understanding is that each person is expected to be in a crouching position. I'm further guessing that a 4-man liferaft would not have enough space (length or width) for a person to lie down with legs extended. Possible additions in the ditch bag: survivor portable watermaker (no batteries required). Solar charger.
I use a laminated ditch checklist so I can go through it quickly and efficiently. I sail Lake Superior so fresh water is not an issue, but the water is so cold I pack winter thermals in the ditch bag just in case. On a lighter note; I would add a better muff your mic. It is really hard to hear you with all the wind noise.
You need muzzles and socks for the dogs so they cant bite or scratch the inflatable raft, aka the only thing keeping you alive. How much water do the dogs need? Would be prepared to give the dogs water and food on day 3? Do you not have a solar panel power station thing, that might be crucial. How about a sat phone? With the proper cords to power anything like that up? Flashlight you can power from the power station? All that assumes in your bags you have cold weather stuff, fishing gear, any water purifiers, and emergency rations for a while.
Some great additions already, in this day and age if you have an epirb and the iridium go you would most likely get rescued within 48 hours. Gone are the days of weeks and months in a life raft even if you are in the deep pacific. However I would add a spare pair of reading glasses for anyone that needs them so you can read the instructions on your flares and inside your raft. Plus a few days medication for anyone on the crew who has medical needs. Foul weather gear for each crew member. Blankets will be no good as soon as you get in the raft there will be water in the bottom so you won’t be able to keep anything dry. I would also add plastic zip lock bags to your grab bag so you can keep things dry, you can also use plastic bags to make an outdoor still that produces water in desperation. Hand fishing reel to catch fish if you’re worried about food. You have very little space and clutter will make your life more uncomfortable. I would also add microfibres towels as they are the best invention yet for drying and mopping stuff as well as padding out and protecting the raft from penetrations. Have every crew member drink as much water as the possible can whilst gathering stuff. If they can slam 1/2 litre of water before getting into the life raft that will be a big help.
What you really need to do is sit down together and make a list for each of you as to what you are supposed to collect, and keep it handy at all times. I would be the most concerned with my mobile phone, computer, camera gear, folder or case with all documents like passports, driver's licenses, insurance cards, deed for boat, cash on hand, etc., and last but not least, pets. Those are the things you could not replace quickly if in another country. Just about everything else is replaceable after reaching shore. Everyone should do this even if you are at home and the house catches fire, or a hurricane is on the way. Better safe than sorry.
Ahoy Zephyr Family!! Thanks for watching this week's latest episode! If you love coming along on the adventure with us every week, subscribe to our channel so you never miss a new episode. It's completely free, super easy, and it actually helps us out so so so much.... Just click the subscribe button above! And if you want to get a notification every time we post a new video, click the little bell icon right next to it. Sending loads of love to each and every one of you!
A ditch checklist posted beside your Mayday script will help you remember what to grab in a hurry.
You need some kind of device that uses humidity or what ever to make water ... I have watched many survival vids and it was the water that saved their lives ... Love you channel 💕
I have a list printed and posted in "several locations" of what is needed to abandon ship. Easy to cross reference what is needed and prioritized.
Comments are absolutely brilliant. I will add one item, Merino wool long johns and long sleeve singlet dry or wet they will look after you. Even if the water is warm you can still get hypothermic. What you did was a good idea so long as you learn from it and advance on your lessons. How many times have sailing boats sunk and none of the emergency equipment was activated a ton of times especially at night. Love your show God Bless you both.
Good first time effort. One point to understand is that in a real actual event when the worst happens extremely fast, you will not have time to think of everything. For this reason it is critical that the essential survival items are already packed in the life raft. Your grab bag should have all of the extra essential items packed inside except for the epirb. For the handheld vhf radio consider the gmdss McMurdo with the non rechargeable spare batteries or the sailor equivalent, both are waterproof and float. The dogs will be another complexity to a survival situation, the point that was raised by another commenter regarding the muzzles and booties is a valid point.
The abandon drills that I was part of for over 30 years had a max time of 3 mins from the alarm to ready to launch lifeboats or life rafts.
In reality you will have much more time to prepare (unless it is a freak catastrophe). Remember the best life raft is your yacht, abandoning it is a last resort always.
For the drills try planning them during the day to start with. Then once comfortable spring them unexpectedly regardless of the conditions and activity on board. One that I used to spring on the crew occasionally was in the dead of night when most were asleep, that was the telling one.
One other point for the dogs, don’t forget their life jackets.
Cheers🇦🇺
If you have to abandon your sailing vessel at night time, chaos sets in. Try a drill at night time.
Nat, you need a check list for evacuation procedures! When real situations happen, we are under stress! Krystyna in WI. Xxoo
Good Test Run. 👍 I've been thinking this through for a while (years really ) and have revolved it around maybe two liferafts of valise rather than cannister types, as canister ones are prime targets for thieves - connected with the Inflatable Di ghy and Outboard with a protective Cover, and roped together 5 gallon Jugs for water and Gasoline, that can be just unclipped to just drag off that side deck into the water, for tying to both liferafts, then everything in Grab bags, ready to go, with a few collapsible buckets, and all of the Washing up liquid (dish soap in the USA? ) that's on the boat into the Dinghy. then if the leak hasn't been able to be plugged , both Liferafts inflated, Straps from each, connecting them to the Dinghy, Water Jugs shared between the Liferafts, Gasoline Jugs into the Dinghy, and set up Water catchers for each Liferaft, and small Solar panels and chargers for radio, torch batteries, plus mobile phone and Tablets with Navigation Charts to check for the closest land. if in range, use the Dinghy, plus Outboard to head to shore slowly, or, try to get comfortable with thermal Blankets in one of the liferafts. For Flares, I have always kept to old outbof date ones in a cool place and dry containers, and if needing to signal, always start with the oldest ones first, because if kept cool and dry, I have never had an out of date one fail to work yet, in familiarisation sessions. With a protective cover for the Dinhy, you have an outside toilet, and you just put some seawater into a collapsible bucket with a short squirt of washing up liquid, which you wet a mi ro fiber cloth with tonuse as toilet paper, rinse thoroughly over the side of the Dinghy, then empty and rinse the bucket, and the current carries what is now Shark Repellent down current from you. There are pretty cheap manual water Desalinater Devices, and Solar Stills available, but they don't produce that much. Next, depends on responses to your EPIRB, and whether any other boats are in VHF Range, and log GPS chart changes of direction and current changes, every 12 hours or so. The it is basically sitting it out, conserving water, and using food carefully. If land comes into range, motor towards it slowly, to conserve as much fuel as possible, and be careful with Surf, rocks etc, to get bothnliferafts ashore in as good a condition as possible, because you have ready made Shelters to use onshore, already with you. I like three pretty complete First Aid Kits on a Boat - a Main one close to the Galley and the grab bags, and two Satellite ones, one in the ForwardcHead, the other in a Cockpit Locker, which should be plenty until Rescue. Once you reach Shore, you need to be able to boil water, andcyou can sterilise water with Plain Bleach One of the Grab bags, will probably be full enough with Snack bars and bars of Chocolate, to sink one ofvthe Liferafts being me - when Motorbike touring Europe, I always carried enough dehydrated food, tea, coffee, Sugar and Condensed Milk, to last 3 months, just in case I got stranded in an EU Collapse. in 2012, when I got to Hungary, I stayed an extra 5 weeks over the 3 weeks planed because the weather was so bad, it just wasn't safe to travel, due to Constant Thunder Storms, torrential Rain, Landslides etc, and I actually ran out of Coffee, as people on the site were running out. I was OK for tea though. 😊🌟🌟🌟👍
Good drill and good message. One thing that I would comment on is your tethers hanging down create a trip and entanglement hazard. I sail in the Pacific NW and our water is rarely over 55º and often much colder. Given that I solo sail a lot, I use my jacklines and tether most of the time. I have found that the tether creates more problems than it solves if it is hanging down like yours are. When not attached to the jack line, I loop it over my shoulders which keep it out of the way and much less likely to get hung up on something.
I could see that you have a 4-man liferaft. Do you know what the interior dimensions are (once deployed)? Very few liferafts manufacturers give that information. And my understanding is that each person is expected to be in a crouching position. I'm further guessing that a 4-man liferaft would not have enough space (length or width) for a person to lie down with legs extended.
Possible additions in the ditch bag: survivor portable watermaker (no batteries required). Solar charger.
I use a laminated ditch checklist so I can go through it quickly and efficiently. I sail Lake Superior so fresh water is not an issue, but the water is so cold I pack winter thermals in the ditch bag just in case.
On a lighter note; I would add a better muff your mic. It is really hard to hear you with all the wind noise.
You need muzzles and socks for the dogs so they cant bite or scratch the inflatable raft, aka the only thing keeping you alive. How much water do the dogs need? Would be prepared to give the dogs water and food on day 3? Do you not have a solar panel power station thing, that might be crucial. How about a sat phone? With the proper cords to power anything like that up? Flashlight you can power from the power station? All that assumes in your bags you have cold weather stuff, fishing gear, any water purifiers, and emergency rations for a while.
Some great additions already, in this day and age if you have an epirb and the iridium go you would most likely get rescued within 48 hours. Gone are the days of weeks and months in a life raft even if you are in the deep pacific.
However I would add a spare pair of reading glasses for anyone that needs them so you can read the instructions on your flares and inside your raft.
Plus a few days medication for anyone on the crew who has medical needs.
Foul weather gear for each crew member. Blankets will be no good as soon as you get in the raft there will be water in the bottom so you won’t be able to keep anything dry.
I would also add plastic zip lock bags to your grab bag so you can keep things dry, you can also use plastic bags to make an outdoor still that produces water in desperation.
Hand fishing reel to catch fish if you’re worried about food.
You have very little space and clutter will make your life more uncomfortable.
I would also add microfibres towels as they are the best invention yet for drying and mopping stuff as well as padding out and protecting the raft from penetrations.
Have every crew member drink as much water as the possible can whilst gathering stuff. If they can slam 1/2 litre of water before getting into the life raft that will be a big help.
EXCELLENT!
Best to have a list by priority. Dog food and bowls?
Grab the misses first because she will go for her dresses and shoes.
Always remember the three 3 rule----3 minutes without oxygen--3 days without water---3 weeks without food !!!
So if I had tried this my dog would have knocked the epirb off the dock into the water 😂. Y’all did pretty good.
When underway on passage do you put documents and any additional items in the ditch bag temporarily?
Foul weather gear seems important.
What you really need to do is sit down together and make a list for each of you as to what you are supposed to collect, and keep it handy at all times. I would be the most concerned with my mobile phone, computer, camera gear, folder or case with all documents like passports, driver's licenses, insurance cards, deed for boat, cash on hand, etc., and last but not least, pets. Those are the things you could not replace quickly if in another country. Just about everything else is replaceable after reaching shore. Everyone should do this even if you are at home and the house catches fire, or a hurricane is on the way. Better safe than sorry.
Is there any risk that the claws on the dogs might puncture the life raft?
Ditch bag... Sun protection cream, hats sunglasses, long sleeve tops and pants, warm clothing, towel,....
❤
Dog food and water, also bowls to put it in.
😀😀😀👍👍👍❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹
Dog Life Jackets on the dogs???
Not enough water because of the dogs!!!